Christopher Marlowe biography

Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He is considered one of the greatest playwrights of the English Renaissance, and his work had a profound influence on William Shakespeare.

Marlowe was born in Canterbury, England, in 1564. He attended King’s School in Canterbury and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1584 and a master’s degree in 1587. During his time at Cambridge, he is believed to have been recruited by the Elizabethan secret service.

Marlowe’s first play, Tamburlaine the Great, was published in 1590. It was an immediate success, and it established Marlowe as a major new voice in English drama. Tamburlaine is a play about a ruthless conqueror who rises from humble beginnings to become a powerful emperor. It is notable for its use of blank verse, a form of unrhymed iambic pentameter that became the standard for English drama.

Marlowe’s other plays include Dido, Queen of Carthage (1594), Edward II (1594), The Massacre at Paris (1593), and The Jew of Malta (1592). These plays explore a wide range of themes, including power, ambition, love, and betrayal. They are also notable for their vivid characters and their exploration of the darker side of human nature.

In addition to his plays, Marlowe also wrote a number of poems, including the unfinished Hero and Leander. He also translated Ovid’s Amores and the first book of Lucan’s Pharsalia.

Marlowe’s life was cut short in 1593, when he was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl. The circumstances of his death are still debated, but some scholars believe that he was murdered by agents of the Elizabethan secret service.

Marlowe’s work had a profound influence on English drama. His plays were highly influential on Shakespeare, and they helped to shape the development of the English public theatre. Marlowe is considered one of the greatest playwrights of the English Renaissance, and his work continues to be performed and studied today.

Here are some of his major works:

• Tamburlaine the Great (1590)
• Dido, Queen of Carthage (1594)
• Edward II (1594)
• The Massacre at Paris (1593)
• The Jew of Malta (1592)
• Hero and Leander (unfinished)